What it's like to live in Niceville
Niceville is a small city in Florida with household incomes running above the national average, crime rates well below the national average, air quality that stays clean most of the year, and a highly educated workforce. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Niceville deals with rent well above the national average, home prices well above the national average, larger class sizes than the national average, and a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin.
The good
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Low crime rates
- Clean air
- Highly educated workforce
- Fast-growing population
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- High home prices
- High student-teacher ratio
- High rent burden for renters
- Very rainy — 73" of rain per year
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
How Niceville compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Niceville
Based on Niceville's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,498
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $69,960 a year
- 51% of Niceville renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$84,700
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $42,350
- Homes cost 4.1× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 24% above US
$1,749/mo median rent
Rent runs on the higher side, at $1,749 a month median. Whether that premium makes sense usually comes down to the local job market and what it pays. Home prices run above average, with a median around $423,500. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $423,500 · 51% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
3.8% county unemployment
Unemployment in Okaloosa County is 3.8%, close to the national average of 4.3%. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Okaloosa County (county-wide)
Safety▼ 90% below US
33 violent crimes per 100k
Safety is genuinely one of the selling points here. Both violent and property crime run well below the national average, the kind of numbers that fade into the background after a week of living somewhere.
Property crime 173/100k · Niceville Police Department · 2025 data
Getting aroundNear US average
25 min average commute
Commutes run about average, at 25 minutes. Fine day to day, but it adds up over a year, and where someone lives relative to where they work starts to matter. 9 in 10 workers drive to work; 10% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly hitting 89°F, and winters are chilly but manageable, with lows around 40°F. It's a wet climate overall.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
1 hospital
There's one Medicare-certified hospital inside city limits, rated 5.0 out of 5 by Medicare. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforceNear US average
39% bachelor's degree or higher
Education levels run about average, with 39% college-educated. It's a mix of white-collar and blue-collar work, which can be an asset or a limitation depending on the field.
Schools
5 public schools inside the boundary
There are 5 public schools inside the boundary and 3 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 21:1, above the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Gulf Islands National Seashore (47 miles away).
Bottom line
Niceville's strongest points are household incomes running above the national average and crime rates well below the national average; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and home prices well above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,749/mo) equals 20% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit anyone prioritizing low crime. It may be a harder fit for anyone who doesn't drive.
Other places near Niceville
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